Oliver is originally from Scotland where he completed his tertiary education with a BSc in Genetics and PhD in plant and soil science from the University of Aberdeen. Oliver's summers were spent in Surrey, on a mixed enterprise farm that had a dairy, broadacre cropping, stone and soft fruit production systems. This made Oliver realise he was unlikely to ever be a farmer, but instilled an appreciation for those who are. His early career was pathology focused on disease epidemiology and suppression with biologicals in spruce plantations and tomatoes. This resulted in further education in soil science, which facilitated Oliver's move to Australia in 2003 and work in the cotton industry. He returned to Scotland in 2008, to a government position, which rapidly changed from GM crops to organic production systems and fostered Oliver's interest in rotational systems. He came back to Australia in 2014 and UNE where he reintroduced soil biology to the undergraduate curriculum. Part of this job was as a soil extension lead to the cotton industry and Oliver's work introducing the 'soil your undies' project to Australia won him national and global recognition, as well as fostering his work and impact on delivering a soil health strategy and associated activities in the textile recycling space. Oliver is excited by the prospect of a move to CQU, to continuing his systems and crop education and helping horticultural growers find real world and practical solutions to the challenges they face. 

Aberdeen University 1990-94

Aberdeen University, CSIRO, Scottish Agricultural College (ran Edinburgh University's Environmental Protection and Management MSc programme), University of New England, Cotton Seed Duistributors, Central Queensland University.

2025 Harald Jensen Lecture, Soil Science Australia, NSW Branch 

2025 CSD's Values award for Safety and Health

2022 General Jeffery Soil Health Award 

2022 CSD Researcher of the year

2021 FAO World Soils Day - Honourable mention for ‘Three little fields and the big bad plough’

2021 CSD Cotton Researcher of the year nomination

2013 Edinburgh University Student Association nomination for excellence in teaching for Soil Protection and Management        

2009 Exercise Executive Stretch, Barry Buddon Camp. Syndicate Winner and member of winning syndicate.

2007 CSIRO Recognition of Significant Contribution, Diversity Award.

2007 Elders young achiever of the year finalist

2006 Invited participant at Australian Academy of Science, High Flyers Think Tank 

Oliver has taught and coordinated units at the University of New England (including the CRDC supported Cotton Course), Edinburgh University (MSc in Environmental Protection and Management), whilst at SRUC, and the University of Aberdeen. Subject topics have covered soil science, agronomy, environmental protection, environmental impact assessments and generic data handling skills. 

Soil Science Australia (2015- . Certified Professional Soil Scientist 2016- )

Australian Association of Cotton Scientists (AACS) (2015- )

Oliver is probably better known for asking Australian's if they've 'soiled their undies' than he is for discovering new species of pest nematodes or altering grower attitudes to soil management. Driving the 'soil your undies' campaign for CottonInfo and later with UNE discovery to help promote our understanding that soil is alive has been Oliver's key achievement to date.  This is a simple experiment, which allows anyone to develop an appreciation of the invisible microbial life in soil, by ironically making a pair of visible pants invisible in a healthy soil. 

This work resulted in Oliver being part of the team that developed the world's first standard for compostable clothing, here in Australia. 

Sub-editor from 2021-23 for the European Journal of Agronomy, involving one special issue on long term rotation studies.

CPNB editing of conference proceedings 2009-2014.

My previous consultation work has included; development of agricultural bi-product composting facilities, the application of organic amendments to land, undertaken EIAs on wind farm development and associated river health, topsoil windrowing and ecosystem recovery, and agricultural system optimisation of conventional, organic and historic land management practices.